Emergency Incident Procedures

Posted by SkillMaker in Nov, 2014

What are Emergency Incident Procedures?

Emergency Incident Procedures are codes and guidelines that are written to comply with relevant Australian legislation on emergency procedures. They describe the physical and administrative arrangements to be followed by the organisation to deliver adequate emergency services. These services may be provided on the organisation’s premises or in any location where organisational activity occurs.

Emergency incident procedures

What are Emergency Incident Procedures like?

Image by John Sutton http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2911687

Emergency Incident Procedures are like the steps that groundsmen would follow if a cricket game was called off due to rain. Rain is an unforeseen event that could cause damage unless pre-arranged steps are followed immediately.

What is the purpose of Emergency Incident Procedures?

Emergency Incident Procedures ensure that the employees of, or visitors to, an organisation are kept safe during an emergency situation. The procedures describe the steps to be taken and the various responsibilities of people involved in managing potential emergencies and critical incidents. These responsibilities include treating injuries and illnesses appropriately, reporting and investigating incidents, and implementing corrective actions.

Emergency Incident Procedures are written to comply with legal and community expectations about the duty of care owed to injured or sick people. They also ensure that the organisation complies with relevant requirements of Workplace Health and Safety legislation.

Emergency Incident Procedures

Where do Emergency Incident Procedures fit in an emergency?

What comes before? An emergency occurs
Then – The emergency procedure is followed
What comes after? Employee completes the reporting requirements

Emergency incident procedures

What are the different types of Emergency Incident Procedures?

Emergency Incident Procedures are needed for many types of emergencies. These emergencies may include natural disasters, explosions, fire, rescues, medical emergencies, incidents with hazardous chemicals, bomb threats and armed attacks.

Natural disasters include floods, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, cyclones or any kind of natural event that severely affects safety and security.
Explosions may be explosions of chemicals, or the result of faulty electrical systems
Fires are very common emergencies. They are often due to faulty electrical wiring, chemical fires or fires from something like a candle that was left burning.
Rescues often occur after a natural disaster or fire, explosion or other similar threats.
A medical emergency may be when an employee is injured in the workplace or suffers an illness in the workplace.
Bomb threats could be a threat via phone, or a suspicious item that has been left near the organisation’s place of business.

Play sound with slides.

What are the components or elements of an Emergency Incident Procedure?

To be efficient and ensure the utmost safety and security of people during an emergency, an Emergency Incident Procedure must have the following components:

Emergency procedures, including an effective response to an emergency. These are step-by-step instructions on what people must do in an emergency.
Evacuation procedures. These procedures state what people must do in an evacuation and where evacuees should go to for safety.
Notifying emergency service organizations. This means keeping records of phone numbers or contact details of key emergency services organizations involved in the industry. These organisations should be notified of the emergency as early as possible.
Medical treatment and assistance. This includes procedures for how victims should be treated, how first aid is done for possible injuries and how to contact medical organisations for help.
Information, training and instruction to relevant workers. Training and instruction on emergency procedures must be done for an organisation’s employees and building occupants.

Emergency incident procedures by Slidely Slideshow

What terms are used when preparing Emergency Incident Procedures?

Here are the most common terms in preparing emergency incident procedures, and their meanings. Different industries and organisations use other terms than these that are specific to their function. For instance, schools may have different Emergency Incident Procedures than a manufacturing plant.

Carcinogen – a chemical that can cause cancer
Extraction (or local exhaust ventilation) – the removal of contaminated air from the source. This significantly reduces the exposure of workers to airborne materials. It does not allow contaminated materials to enter the workplace.
Flammable – describes a chemical that quickly starts to burn and burns rapidly.
Flashpoint – the lowest temperature at which a liquid gives off enough vapour to create a mixture with air that will catch fire when a source of ignition (e.g. a flame) is present.
MSDS – material safety data sheet
Organic chemical – a chemical that contains carbon
Reproductive toxin – a chemical that may affect the ability of a person to reproduce
RPE – respiratory protective equipment such as respirators that purify air or supply fresh air
Terpene – a general name of hydrocarbon chemicals with a formula of C1OH16
Volatile – desccribes a substance that is unstable at room temperature (that is, may burst into flames or give off toxic gas).